I listened to a hunter from Africa
say
“all life is sacred”
and he said that after separating
a small, thin, non-venomous snake
from around a large African hawk-like bird’s neck
because you see, the bird attacks snakes,
but that snake couldn’t eat the large bird once it died:
that would have been a senseless death.
“all life is sacred,” you say.
so I couldn’t help but think:
as a hunter, do you pray for the sacred dead
after you killed it?
I mean, I don’t usually vocalize
when I’m on a high horse like this
and I’ve had to explain myself
to meat eaters:
no these aren’t leather shoes
I wear; I’m a vegetarian.
though I still have to feign a smile
to commiserate with men eating slaughtered
animal. cause you see, I’d look like a fool
for having beliefs. people don’t want to hear about
a moral choice different from their own.
I mean, we’re Americans,
if it’s not human,
or maybe a dog or a cat, eat it. it’s that simple.
###
but I married a hunter
a marine who served our country
and he told me
that every time he killed an animal
a part of him felt a regretful twinge of pain
when he killed his prey.
the prey that he searched for.
with a weapon he could use
before anything got close enough
to be an enemy.
oh, I’m sorry.
I’m getting on my high horse again.
it’s convenient that people
can get their kill from the grocery store
without getting any blood
on their hands.
anything to stop everyone from thinking
about what they’re doing.
because I’ve heard that killing something
makes you feel something.
And I thought:
Copyright © 2011 Janet Kuypers.
…
It has always puzzled me how willingly people buy meat in the grocery store, but how they look at me when I say I helped butcher a pig and I can kill a chicken. They are disgusted by me, and shocked at what I can do.
Like many farmers, we thanked the animals before we consumed them, or used what they gave us besides being food.
The grace so many say before they eat goes to the god(s). Where is the grace in that if you forget the ones who were killed to be on our plates?
This poem, found by accident, spoke to me.
I live to 95% a vegan lifestyle, not by choice but by despair.
All life is sacred! It makes me think about an ant pile in India.
It’s crazy that saying unnecessary killing is wrong puts you “on a high horse,” but I know that’s the reaction you get from people. People always ask “what do you miss most since you went vegan?” and I want to answer, my ignorance about the atrocities committed against animals every day.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I miss bacon, but besides that I am a happy vegan. I do cheat twice a year and I think that’s not too bad. 🙂
I miss seafood occasionally, not a great replacement for that yet. haha And I wish more people would at least make small changes even if they feel they can’t go entirely vegan. One day a week makes a difference. One MEAL a week makes a difference. Just switching to plant based milk helps. It’s so much better than doing nothing.
Baby steps 🙂
Thank you for your thoughtful insight and writing this!
“it’s convenient that people
can get their kill from the grocery store
without getting any blood on their hands.”
I wish more people thought about this, especially people who say they “love animals.” (Not to mention the pollution caused by factory farms.)
The love for animals is/was the deciding factor that I went almost meat-free. The bonus for me is that I feel less pain when I stick to a vegan diet.
I find the poem so poignant, so brilliant, so rattling. I just had to share it.
I am thankful for the meat I eat. If I had to hunt and kill it I don’t think I could. I know the pain and torture the animals go through in the life given for food – it is not ideal, but what of the hunters that kill a parent in the wild? Is that any less humane? Nobody really knows the full extent of the family dynamic in the wild… that buck could have been a great leader in the eyes of others, taken down for a meal and a hide. There is no solution… man (as well as other animals) eats meat and and someone will always suffer in some way for that. If I could buy from a butcher shop that uses every inch of the animal to not waste the kill I would. That I think is the biggest “sin” – that we kill for the meat and just discard the rest. Where as those of the past used every part of the animal. I don’t know, maybe I am just babbling but as a fact I don’t think the human race will ever give up meat. I may cut down my portions for my diet, but still I like the taste of a lot of dishes with meat – does that make me wrong for having the taste my ancestors had? I will stop rambling on now… sorry to take up so much space in you comments.
We are all part of natures circle of life. You are either prey, or the hunter.
Fairness, is there any?
I think eating what you kill and consuming and using all of the animal is the right way.
I cannot eat genetically altered food or processed food. I buy only locally, GMO and antibiotic free meat and chickens from a farmer, because in the store they are all pumped up with a saline solution.
Our meat is more expensive, so we buy and ultimately consume less. It’s a win-win.
I will me looking into area butcher shops to see what is locally sourced. Only problem is that it is at least an hours drive on top of the cost of the meat. Most of the farmers around me have fields instead of pastures.
You don’t have an Aldi close by, or a grocery store that sells healthy meat?
There is an Aldi near.
Alid owns Trader Joes. The brand you need to look for is “never any”. No antibiotics, grass-fed. Organic meat and poultry.
I will need meat next week probably… I will be sure to check out Aldi for never any. THANKS Bridget! 🤗
Such an important read, Bridget. And I loved reading the comments here too. Sacredness indeed. Xoxo I enjoyed this post. Thank you.
I treasure these comments. So much wisdom for all to see and read.
Another thought to add to the mix…not only are people consuming meat, there’s also a lot of waste with massive amounts of food being thrown out. I was helping out at a foodbank, which received donations from local supermarkets and they almost always had massive amounts of bread and we could barely give it away. That really concerns me when Our planet has limited resources and environmentally we’re in serious trouble. That’s another thing which needs to change.
The waste and the laws forcing the waste, bother me too. Why not leave it up to the people in need if they want to risk eating expired boxed cereals, instead of forcing the stores to throw them out? Expiration dates after all are just a guideline, not set in stone dates. They are estimated.
It is an interesting coincidence that only last night I was reminiscing with two of my brothers how we had to slaughter sheep and chickens in our youth how my father was against his sons shooting any guinea fowl for ‘fun’ and they could only do so when we needed one for a meal. The same applied to fishing in our farm dam. I ended up having to pluck / skin / gut and most often cook the results. They – both great carnivores – laughed about my very early distaste for meat (which I eat very rarely now) and we all agreed that the ‘sanitized’ way of buying meat in supermarkets today distance the consumers from the animals and even from the farmers who produce whatever it is they are eating.
Just this year I was asked if I could teach a young woman how to kill and clean out chickens. She and her husband a house and a few acres and they will try to grow and can as much as possible for them and their three kids. Turkeys, chicken and later on ducks and pigs are on the list.
I wanted to post about it, but then I thought the picture of the dead, naked chickens might shock some. After all, reality is not very appealing these days.
This is an incredible read, Bridget! We are so flawed as a society! Our personal “norms” are easily accepted, explained and defended, but if someone else has a different interpretation, especially if it is a cultural difference, it’s quite easy to turn up our noses and condemn.
I really loved this! Thank you!
I was so glad when I found the poem. I couldn’t help but share. The poem is so spot on, all over the place, poignant at the same time. The hunter feeling guilt, the consumer who should, doesn’t feel the same way.
Yes, we are arrogant and ignorant to cultural differences. I learned it the hard way -like so often.
I think the kindest thing we can do for ourselves is just remain open to learning, even from mistakes and ignorance. I think of you as very open to learning from all sectors, Bridget, and I’m glad you share what you learn!
I would never dismiss anyone’s beliefs. I would like to think they would reciprocate.
Sadly, that make you a unicorn 🙂
I can identify with the conflict over this. I’m definitely eating less meat and more fish, but in truth a matter of taste.
Taste and habit I suppose. It’s good that you are eating less meat.
I grew up with animals and participated in the whole birth to death processes. I believe it gives a far better understanding and respect for both human and animal life and death, whereas a sanitised view of food production leads to all sorts of peculiar views and prejudices.
You said it beautifully. I think many would consume less meat if they would think more about where it comes from.
Thinking while eating, thinking while consuming and not taking anything for granted. Knowing where our food comes from and ultimately being able to survive on our own. How can that be wrong?
It can’t!
🐎🤪
Oooo! I love this! (she says chomping on her bacon…)
Haha!